Record controlled computing machine



1945. A. H. DICKINSON 2,390,427

RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Shets-Sheetl A TTORNE Y Dec, 4, 1945. i A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTINGMACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 e 9. 2 m. 2 W." m m V G 3F F F H G 8 I z a & a F m r m m F F F F 45/1 PITF/W'M 2295448 Z 5 J,[gym/i012 ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLEDCOMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Z 2,INEZENTOR ATTOHNE Y Dec. 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLEDCOMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Dec.4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April12, 1944 16 ShBtS-ShBGt 5 IN VEN T OR A TTORNEY mm w W86 M x .g W 5 is 35. Es W WWW W 1 1 u \QE 1 m IJ w nx w wk mut .nkhl l m y W U M mfiwm aw.w\ 985 w WWM Q :l Ii 3 WQE 33% WW. 1 W W7 WM rl M M WM W W n WWW WWWWWW WWW WWW WWW WW WWW WWW. m 33 3k 3% $6 SQ $6 $6 \Qw \aQ A u an 9 anam 1 3w w 3w \GW 3% EN 3\ wbu Imp v 1W 1W LW U m A r Dr F F Win w qHFJIJ .JL-FJ HJLHJ HEJIJ g F fi-g \QQ/v W Nwfi Nu NW wv w mr. & Nw fi NXW. m MN\ m w M w w w WW WW 2: m 1W W -W W W 2W m WW W J; W W W W --W M16 Sheets-Sheet 6 A. H. DICKINSON Filed April 12, 1944 x8 w QSRWW. Nunsq TS wk RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1945.

INYENTOR A TTORNEY 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTINGMACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 QQNMWMENM 3 RD E k QWIN'VENTOIY ATTORNEY 16 Sheets-Shet 8 MWQN 3 J mmm uNdE

A. H. DICKINSON Filed April 12, 1944 Dec. 4, 1945.

RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE INV NTOH ATTORNEY 4, 1945. A. H.DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE l6 Shets-Sheet 9 FiledApril 12, 1944 .& w s 5 3 QQQ wax

EN mum \SQ n w mm RQQQ M VTENTQH ATTORNEY 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSONRECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet10 NNNK mwdI IN VENTOR BY M4444.

A TTOHNE Y Dec. 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTINGMACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet ll I NNS II N-Nu EN TOR ATTOHNEY 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLEDCOMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 Filed April 12, 1944 16Sheets-Sheet l6 Patcnted Dec. 4, 1945 RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTINGMACHINE Arthur H. Dickinson, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application April 12, 1944, Serial No. 530,588

9 Claims.

This invention relates to computing machine and mor particularly to thetype controlled by perforated records and which is capable ofselectively performing dividing, multiplying, or combined dividing andmultiplying computing operations, such as, represented by the equationAXB C The main object of the invention is to provide a selecting meancomprising distinctively perforated controlled records which precedeother records which are to control the selected computation. In thepresent invention such control records are characterized for the purposeof distinction as master cards and the following computing control cardsor records as detail cards.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a record handling,feeding and record analyzing means which will select under control ofthe master records the desired computing mechanism and accordinglycondition the machine for the desired computation effected under controlof the following detail cards.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for feeding one ormore detail cards after a master card has selected the desired type ofcomputation and retained the machine in the condition it has been put infor effecting the kind of computation determined by the master card, sothat the desired computing operation can be effected as long as detailcards follow but terminate upon the sensing of the following mastercard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel setup means forthe desired form of computation which is concurrently set up in therecord feeding Operation that a detail card is fed, to provide for theretention of the setup while the computing operation is being effectedunder control of one or more detail cards so that immediately uponterminating computing operation for the last detail card the nextcomputing operation can be immediately effected.

In th present machine the distinctively perforated master recordspossess only the function of selectin the desired form of computation,whereas the detail cards are perforated to represent the data to controlthe selected computation. Inasmuch as the master and detail cards arepassed through the machine in the sequence in which they are placed inthe magazine and through a common feeding mechanism it is desirable topass the master cards through the punching machine without, however,effecting any result recording operations.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means to runthe master cards through the record handling part of the computingmachine, then idly through the record punching machine so that afterbeing ejected from the punching machine the master and detail cards areplaced in the hopper of the punching machine in the same sequence inwhich they are initially located in the magazine hopper of the computingmachine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plurality ofcomputation selecting setup means associated with a single controlcolumn of the master records and which are selectively set up todetermine the type of computation to be effected under control of thefollowing detail cards. The arrangement provides for the breakdown ofthe setup so that upon occurrence of the next master card requiring thesame computing operation as the preceding card the associated setupmeans may again be set up. A breakdown is so arranged that as the mastercards vary computing operations may accordingly change from master cardto master card.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 1a taken together with Fig. 1a to the right of Fig. 1 show asomewhat diagrammatic view of the various units of the machine and thedrive therefor.

Figs. 2a to 271. inclusive, taken together show the complet circuitdiagram of the machine when arranged according to the diagram of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a diagram (on the sheet showing Fig. 1a) indicating the mannerof assembly of Figs. 2a-2h comprising the wiring diagram.

Fig. 4 is a timing diagram showing the timing of the various CC cams.

Fig. 5 is a timing diagram of the FC cams.

Fig. 6 is a timing diagram of the KC cams.

Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram indicating the cyclic operations of themachine when multiplying, dividing and computations are successivelyeffected, the computing mechanisms being selected by the assoelatedmaster card and following detail cards controlling the selectedcomputation.

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the plugboard connections made to effect the n, Band C entries and also the plugboard connections made to effect theselection of the different computing means under master card control.

Fig. 9 is a flow diagram showing the manner of entering factors of amultiplying computation and how the machine performs suchmultiplication.

Fig. 10 is a flow diagram showing the manner of entering factors of adividing computation and how the machine performs a dividing computa- 1.Machine drive Referring first to Figs. 1 and 1a, in general the machinecomprises five accumulating units which are respectively designated SP,LQ, RD, ML, and MP. It may be explained that the unit ML containsaccumulators and readouts from which all of the nine digital multiplesof the divisor or multiplicand can be derived depending upon.

whether the machine is used for division, multiplication, or

A B C computation. The MP receiving device receives the multiplier uponentry in the multiplying or AXB C calculation. Such unit is not utilizedin a dividing computation of The accumulating units LQ and RD receivecomponents of the products upon multiplication with the final productformed in LQ, and upon division or AXB computation LQ receives thequotient amount.

In division RD receives the dividend amount, and in AXB computation RDreceives the product of AXE. The SP unit is utilized in receiving the Cfactor of a AXB C computation. The various accumulating units are drivenby the gearing delineated from the driving motor M. The machine is alsoprovided with a direct current generator DC. The card handling andfeeding section of the machine is of customary form like that shown inDaly Patent No. 2,045,437 and is driven in the usual manner. The FC camcontacts FC2-22 (Fig. 1a) are also driven in the customary manner insynchrortism with the drive of the card handling section of the machine.The units designated CY, N-R, are electromechanical relay setup units ofthe general construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17 of Patent No.2,295,448, issued to J. W. Bryce et al. Each of these units is adaptedfor reset from the constantly running drive shaft by the customaryone-revolution clutch arrangement. The reset magnets for the units arerespectively designated 32lCY, 32lN--R. The comparing units are showndiagrammatically at CU--CU. These comparing units are of the form shownin Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive of the patent to Bryce et al., No.2,295,448, and such units are adapted to be driven from the drive shaftby the use of the well known one-revolution clutch, the clutch magnetbeing designated 342. Also driven from the main drive shaft are theusual CC cams designated CCI-lll and the impulse distributor 306. Inaddition there are also provided eight impulse emitters which aredesignated 3, 3, M4, 322, M0, 315, 348, 350 and SH.

2. Accumulators and entry receiving devices As stated, the SP, LQ, RD,ML and MP units are accumulators of electromechanical type. Theseaccumulators are identical in construction except for the number ofreadout sections, some accumulators having four readout sections andothers having less. The accumulator which is here employed may be ofvarious types known in the art, more particularly the type ofaccumulator having electrical transfer and electrical reset. Suitableaccumulators of this type are shown and described in United StatesPatent No. 1,834,767 and suitable readout structure may be that shown inUnited States Patent No. 2,062,117 employing the electric reset ofPatent No. 1,834,767, modified as per British Patent No.

The present invention involves transfer total arrangements according toBritish Patent No. 422.135.

While the aforesaid accumulators are a suitable type for use with thepresent invention, a preferred accumulator is of the form illustratedand described in Lake and Pfafi Patent No. 2,232,006, dated February 18,1941.

3. Insertible plugboards The insertible plugboard construction is of atype known in the art and the insertible plug unit is generallyindicated at MI in Fig. 18 of Patent No. 2,295,448. Devices of this typeare generally known as automatic plugboards and a suitable form of suchplugboard is shown and fully described in the patent to C. D. Lake, No,2,111,118, dated March 15, 1938. Such automatic plugboard arrangementcomprises a series of relatively fixed machine sockets to which thefixed machine wiring is connected. Adapted for cooperation with suchsockets are plug prongs carried by a replaceable plugboard assembly orunit. Such plug prongs on the replaceable board are in turn connected toplug sockets upon the replaceable board. These plugboard sockets may bein turn plugged up by the operator selectively at will or the entireboard may be pre-plugged with a desired set of connections.

The manner in which the replaceable plugboard unit is wired and pluggedfor the form of control described herein is shown in Fig. 0. v

It may be explained that the plug socket reference numerals used on thecircuit diagram of -Fig. 2a-2h are the same as those used on thediagrammatic plugboard view of Fig. 8.

4. Cam timing diagrams The cam timing diagrams, Figs. 4, and 6 areself-explanatory. It should be noted that the cams controlling the CCcam contacts of Fig. 4 make one revolution for each machine cycle. Thecams controlling the FC cam contacts of Fig. 5 when called intooperation make one revolution for each card feed cycle which comprisestwo machine cycles. The cams controlling the X0 cam contacts of Fig. 6when called into operation make one revolution for three machine cycles.

Such XC cam contacts are driven from the drive shaft through aone-revolution clutch which is controlled by magnet 3l2. (Fig. 1.) Thedrive side of the one-revolution clutch receives its drive from the'maindrive shaft 50 through the gearing shown which drives the X0 cams onerevolution for each three revolutions of the main drive shaft.

5. Operation utilizing plugboard shown in Fig. 8

This figure shows plug connections to be made when the machine is to beset for multiplying computations A X B, the

AXB C The operation of the machine will first be explained withreference to multiplying. In explaining multiplying the manner in whichmultiples of an entered amount are built up and stored in the machinewill be set forth but these multiple building up operations ar equallyapplicable to the building up of the divisor in dividing computationsand in the AXB C computation.

Before describing multiplying operations it may be stated that thecircuit diagram of the instant application has been shown with a certaincolumnar capacity. For simplicity of illustration the capacity as shownby the circuit diagram is two columns by two columns, but it will beappreciated that in actual practice the machine may have a greatercolumnar capacity. Greater columnar capacity is derived primarily by aduplication of orders of accumulators, readouts, and increased number ofentry circuits.

It will be assumed that a set of master and following detail recordcards are in place in the supply magazine of the machine. The operatorthen closes switch 300, supplying current to driving motor M (Fig. 2b).With the main driving motor M in operation the D. C. generator marked DC(Fig. 211) is set in operation supplying current to ground and to D. C.line 30!. The operator now depresses start key 302 (Fig. 2d) and acircuit is completed from ground through the F03 contacts through relaycontacts Fl, through the start key contacts back through relay coil E toline 30!. Relay coil E upon being energized is maintained energized by astick circuit through relay contacts El and cam contacts FC2. Theenergization of relay coil E closes relay contacts E2 and a circuit iscompleted from ground, through cam contacts C029, through the punchcontrolled contacts Pl (Fig. 2d) and the E2 contacts now closed, throughthe JJ 2 contacts, through the stop key contacts 303 now closed, throughthe card feed clutch magnet 304, back through the DI contacts in theposition shown to line 30l. A master card is now fed by the card feedingand handling section of the machine (Fig. 12). During the first cardfeed cycle the first master card will be fed to be analyzed by thepresensing brushes 3' to determine the computation to be performed in a.manner tobe subsequently explained. It is explained here that thepresence of a perforation in the 9 position of a control column willenabl the machine to remain in its normal status for effecting amultiplying operation of AXB under control of the following detail card.In starting up the machine on a run of cards, the start key must bemaintained depressed for two card feed cycles or it may be depressed andreleased and then redepressed. During the first card feed cycle certainidle operations occur which may be merely alluded to. The RD accumulatoris reset to zero and circuits of the machine are conditioned just as ifa product amount were to be punched. Punching does not occur at thistime, however, because there is no result to record and the card has notyet reached the punching machine.

Upon redepression or maintained depression of the start key 302 (Fig.2d) the previouslydescribed circuit will be established to the card feedclutch magnet 304 and a second card feed cycle will ensue during whichthe master card will be fed past the analyzing brushes 308 and afollowing detail card will be fed from the magazine hopper to thebrushes 3' and in such position that in a subsequent or third card feedcycle amounts from the following detail card will be read by theanalyzing brushes 308 to effect entries to control the selectedcomputation. However, in the feeding of the master card past theanalyzing brushes 308, no analysis of the master card occurs thereby,since the master cards carry only the computing selecting perforationswhich are not analyzed by brushes 308. As will be later evident, meansis set in operation by the master card to render such entry meanseffective prior to a computation.

During the second card feed cycle, the master card is fed past theanalyzing brushes 308 to the punch tray in the usual manner. Uponreaching this tray, card lever contacts 3| I (Figs. 2d and 12) close toenergize the relay coil D. The energization of relay coil D shifts relaycontacts DI, (left side of Fig. 2d) to a reverse position from thatshown, cutting off the current supply to the card feed clutch magnet 304and providing current supply for the punch rack trip magnet 3|! uponclosure of cam contacts CCI with contacts P3 and relay contacts Blclosed. The

'relay contacts Bl become closed upon energize.-

tion of the B relay coil (Fig. 2d, lower left side) upon closure of thecustomary last column punching contacts P5. With punch rack trip magnet3l8 energized, contacts 3H (Fig. 2b) be come closed and remain latchedclosed in the customary manner by latch 320. Current supply is 7. LQReset With relay coils B and D energized in the manner previouslyexplained, relay contacts B2 and D2 (Fig. 2e) become closed. Uponclosure of cam contacts CC2I, current will flow from the 3M line throughthese contacts through the relay contacts AK2 now in the position shown,down through the now closed B2 contacts, the HH2 contacts now closed,the D2 contacts now closed to and through the 32ILQ reset relay coil toground. Reset will then be effected of the LQ accumulator during amachine cycle following the second card feed cycle.

The present machine employs electric reset and provision is accordinglymade to maintain the 32 ILQ relay coil energized during the reset cycle.This is provided for by stick contacts LQI, such contacts being in astick circuit including cam contacts CO5. Upon energization of the LQrelay, contacts LQZ, LQ36 (Fig. 2h.) and LQI (Fig. 2g) shift to reverseposition from that shown. With LQ2 (Fig. 2h) in reverse position currentsupply is afforded to an emitter 322 which is wired in a ninescomplementary manner to the LQR readout. Complemental impulsesrepresentative of the nines complement of the amount standing in LQ flowthrough the now shifted LQ3-6 contacts, through the set of linesgenerally designated 323 to the 3|3LQ accumulator magnets and back toground (see also Fig. 29). By thus introducing the nines complement ofthe amount standing in LQ the accumulator elements are restored to a 9position. To bring the accumulator to zero from the all 9 position, anelusive 1 is entered in the units order at the carry time in the cycle.This entry is provided through the contacts LQ'I which are closed in themanner previously explained. This impulse is supplied in the vfol'lpwingmanner: From line 30!, through cam contacts CCI6, (Fig. 2g) via line324, through the LQ'I contacts, through the normal carry relay contactsAV4 controlled by relay coil AV (Fig. 2d) down to the units order of the3I3LQ magnets. The units order is thus advanced one step and theelectric transfer devices of the accumulator cause advance of all theother higher orders one step.

It may be explained that as long as the machine is operating, camcontacts CO2 close once each machine cycle at the carry time in theoperation of the accumulators. Such closure of cam contacts CC2energizes relay coil AV (Fig. 2d). The energization of coil AV closescontacts AVI-4, and AV59 (Fig. 29), AVID-ll, (Fig. 2e), AV|228( Fig. 2a)and AV2930 (Fig. 20)", which are respectively associated with the LQ,RD, MP, ML and SP accumulators. Since coil AV becomes energized onceeach machine cycle the aforementioned relay contacts thus close at thecarry time. The closure of these contacts permits the electric carrydevices to be effective for \performing carry operations whenever theyare required in their related accumulators.

During LQ reset, provision is made to prevent repetition of such reset.This repeat reset preventing means is provided for as follows: During LQreset, the LQ8 contacts are closed (Fig. 2d right side). Accordingly,when cam contacts C06 close, a circuit is provided from ground throughthe LQ8 contacts, through 006, either through relay contacts AK3 orthrough the AN3 contacts to relay coil HH. Relay coil HH, becomingenergized, establishes its stick circuit through contacts HHI and thepunch controlled contacts P2 now closed. On Fig. 2e, the relay contactsHH2 open and thus interrupt the reset initiating circuit t 32lLQ.

8. Master card control of multiplying mechanism Reverting to operations.performed in the first card feed cycle upon starting up the machine, itwill be assumed that the first master card fed from the magazine hopperto be analyzed by the brushes 3' is perforated at the 9 index pointposition of the control column which calls for a multiplying computationto be effected under control of the following detail card. Referring toFig. 2h a circuit will be completed in the second machine cycle of thefirst card feed cycle from line 30I, through the FCI5 cam contacts,conductor plate 310, analyzing brush 3H in a column to sense the 9 indexpoint position of the control column, GAI relay contacts, to the emitter5l2 which when it makes at the time the 9 index point is analyzed bybrush 3' causes an impulse to flow to plug hub 50i, via plug connectionfrom plug hub 50! to plug hub 5l5, (see also Fig. 8) to grounded relaycoil EA. Relay coil EA energizes to close its stick contacts EAI, thestick circuit extending back through EAI contacts to the cam contactsFCI9 contacts. The latter maintains the energization of the relay coilEA to the end of the first card feed cycle and for substantially half ofthe first machine cycle of the second card feed cycle. This second cardfeed cycle, it will be recalled, is initiated manually and during thefirst machine cycle of the second card feed cycle while the EA relay isenergized cam contacts FCZO close and with the EA2 contacts now closed acircuit will be closed from line 3M through cam contacts F020, throughEA2 contacts to the grounded FA relay coil. A stick circuit for the FArelay coil is provided back through the FAI contacts and the punchcontrol contacts P211, the latter being operated concurrently with theP2 contacts (Fig. 2d). By this stick circuit FA relay will be retainedenergized during the remainder of the second card feed cycle and duringthe subsequent two machine cycles during the first of which the LQaccumulator is reset in the manner previously described. During thesecond machine cycle there is a reset of the ML and MP receiving devicesprovided for by the following circuit.

9. Reset of ML and MP receiving devices During the LQ reset cycle, whilethe 32ILQ relay coil is retained energized to close the LQH and DQIZrelay contacts (Fig. 2f) cam contacts CC24 close, thereby closing acircuit from the line 3!, through cam contacts C024, FA5 relay contactsnow closed, then through LQH relay contacts now closed through thegrounded KK

